The Trail of the Whispering Giants is a collection of sculptures by Hungarian-born[1] artist Peter Wolf Toth.[2] The sculptures range in height from 20to, and are between 8and in diameter. In 2009, there were 74 Whispering Giants, with at least one in each of the 50 U.S. states, as well as in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada,[3] and one in Hungary.[4] One in Oregon was removed in 2017 after irreparable windstorm damage, reducing the total to 73. In 1988, Toth completed his goal of placing at least one statue in each of the 50 states, by carving one in Hawaii, and in 2008, he created his first Whispering Giant in Europe, Stephen I of Hungary in Délegyháza,[5] Hungary along the Danube River.
In 2009, eight more Whispering Giants were planned.[6]
(Update February 2, 2015) The Trail of the Whispering Giants is an ongoing project and much of the material here especially the chart below is out of date and too extensive to edit fully this article. A traveler, David Schumaker, went on a quest to identify all the Whispering Giant statues and has documented 57 existing statues and identified 12 that are now missing or destroyed since Peter Wolf Toth began this project in 1972. Schumaker has documented his information on the WEB site Peter Wolf Toth which has the most current information on the Whispering Giants and messages from the artist himself.[7]
The 74 Whispering Giants range from 15to in height, and all resemble natives of the region in which they are located. Toth always donates the Whispering Giant he creates to the town he carved it in, and never charges a fee for his time. He does require that the raw materials (a large log between 8and in diameter) be provided, as well as lodging and living expenses. The carvings have been appraised at a quarter of a million dollars each.
Toth uses a hammer and a chisel as the basic tools to create the Whispering Giants, but on occasion will use a mallet and an axe, or rarely power tools.[8] Before starting work on a Whispering Giant, Toth confers with local Native American tribes and local lawmakers. The sculpture that is created is a composite of all the physical characteristics, especially facial features, of the local tribe or tribes, as well as their stories and histories. Toth dismisses the notion that the Whispering Giant sculptures are totem poles or represent Native American art, and has further stated that it would be inappropriate to carve totems because they were traditionally carved by Northwestern Indian tribes and had religious significance, where his carvings are intended as sculptures of Native American people.[9]
Currently Peter Toth resides in Edgewater, Florida, where he has a small studio where he carves small wooden statues to raise money to create more Whispering Giants. He travels around America to repair Whispering Giants he carved in the past that have not been kept up, as well as to carve new ones. The latest Whispering Giant carved was in Vincennes, Indiana, in 2009 out of Black Oak, but there are still eight more statues planned to be built.
While Toth intends for his sculptures to be a tribute to Native Americans that honors the injustices Native Americans have experienced, some critics view the statues as inauthentic and being based on caricatures and stereotypes of Native Americans.[10] The statues are seen by some critics as anachronistic or racist. The columnist Maurice Switzer has condemned the statues as "ridiculous, offensive" and "lame-brained".[11]
| -- two columns marked unsortable until fixed (see --> | Date | Location | State/Province | Medium | Approx. Height | Picture/Name | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[12] | 1972, February | La Jolla | California | Rock beach cliff | Lost[13] | |||
| 2[14] | 1972, Summer | Akron | Ohio | Maple | ||||
| 3[15] [16] | 1973, January | DeLand | Florida | Oak | 7 feet | Lost to rot | ||
| 4[17] [18] | 1973, February | Colquitt U.S. Highway 27 | Georgia | Red Cedar | 18 feet | Replaced with number 70. Reason for replacement unknown. | ||
| 5[19] [20] | 1973, April | Dothan Houston-Love Memorial Library | Alabama | Oak | 20 feet | Mus-Quoian | ||
| 6[21] | 1973, June | Sharon | Pennsylvania | Elm | 20 feet | |||
| 7[22] [23] | 1973, August | Dunkirk Route 5, Lake Shore Drive West | New York | Elm | 7.5 feet | Restored by the artist in 2014[24] | ||
| 8[25] [26] | 1973, October | Wheeling | West Virginia | Elm | 14 feet | Kanououara | Destroyed by Dutch elm disease | |
| 9[27] [28] | 1973, December | Cleveland Museum Center at 5ive Points | Tennessee | Oak | 10 feet | Cherokee Chieftain | ||
| 10[29] [30] | 1974, January | Punta Gorda A. C. Freeman House, 311 West Retta Esplanade | Florida | Parota | 15 feet | Restored by Toth in summer 2005.[31] | ||
| 11[32] | 1974, October | Vancouver | Washington | White Fir | 25 feet | |||
| 12[33] | 1975, February | New Orleans | Louisiana | Oak | Restored 2010 and currently exhibited at the entry of Brechtel Park, 4401 Lennox Blvd, New Orleans, LA. | |||
| 13[34] [35] | 1975, April | Little Rock[36] | Arkansas | Oak | 20 feet | |||
| 14[37] | 1975, June | Fort Wayne | Indiana | 25 feet | Destroyed by termites. | |||
| 15[38] [39] | 1975, August | Lansing Potter Park Zoo | Michigan | Elm | 29 feet 3 inches | Removed in 2012.[40] | ||
| 16[41] | 1975, October | Hopewell | Illinois | Oak | 18 feet[42] | |||
| 17[43] [44] | 1975, December | Ocean Springs Davidson Park | Mississippi | Cypress | 27 feet | Crooked Feather | ||
| 18[45] | 1976, March | Wilmington Greenfield Park | North Carolina | Oak | 27 feet | In 1979, the statue was moved from Greenfield Park to a walking trail near the "Lion's Bridge". In 1986, it was moved again to Buckhead, NC.[46] Replaced by Statue #71. | ||
| 19[47] [48] | 1976, May | Virginia Beach Mount Trashmore City Park | Virginia | Cypress | 24 feet | |||
| 20[49] | 1976, July | Atlantic City | New Jersey | Tulip Poplar | Missing (status unknown). | |||
| 21[50] [51] | 1976, September | Ocean City South Second Street & Baltimore Avenue | Maryland | Oak | 20 feet | |||
| 22[52] [53] | 1976, December[54] | Bethany Beach | Delaware | poplar | 27 feet | Chief Little Owl | Destroyed by high winds in 1992; remains located at Indian Museum in Millsboro. Replaced in early 1990s, and again in 2002 with Statue #69. | |
| 23[55] [56] | 1977, February | Charleston | South Carolina Charles Towne Landing | Darlington Oak | 24 feet | Landing Brave | Restored by Toth in 2005.[57] | |
| 24[58] [59] | 1977, May | St. Louis Forest Park | Missouri | Oak | 19 feet | Struck by lightning, may no longer exist[60] [61] [62] [63] | ||
| 25[64] [65] | 1977, July | Two Harbors Information Center 8, Highway 61 East | Minnesota | Pine | 30 feet | |||
| 26[66] [67] | 1977, September | Hayward Carnegie Library | Wisconsin | Oak | 34 feet | Tribute to the Ojibwe | ||
| 27[68] | 1977, November | Desert Hot Springs Cabot's Pueblo Museum | California | Sequoia/Cedar | ||||
| 28[69] | 1978, June | Iowa Falls | Iowa | Cottonwood | ||||
| 29[70] [71] | 1978, September | Troy Doniphan County Courthouse | Kansas | Burr Oak | 27 feet | Restored by Toth in 2010. | ||
| 30[72] | 1979, May | Broken Bow Beavers Bend State Park Forest Heritage Center | Oklahoma | Cypress | ||||
| 31[73] [74] | 1979, August | Loveland 2033 Waterdale Drive, Rock Ridge Ranch | Colorado | Cottonwood | 37 feet | Relocated to a private ranch on the northern side of US Route 34 (west of Loveland, CO) from its original location on the southern shore of Lake Loveland.[75] | ||
| 32[76] [77] | 1979, October | Red Lodge Red Lodge Library | Montana | Ponderosa Pine | 25 feet | |||
| 33[78] [79] | Winslow Winslow Visitor Center | Arizona | Ponderosa Pine | 40 feet | ||||
| 34[80] | 1980, May | Texarkana | Texas | Red Oak | Missing (status unknown). | |||
| 35[81] [82] | 1980, July | Lincoln Lincoln Indian Center | Nebraska | Cottonwood | 25 feet | Fallen giant has succumbed to birds, bugs, and weather. It has been destroyed. | ||
| 36[83] [84] | 1980, September | Worland Washakie County Courthouse | Wyoming | Douglas fir | 20 feet | |||
| 37[85] [86] | 1980, November | Idaho Falls North Tourist Park, Lincoln Road and North Yellowstone Highway | Idaho | Douglas Fir | 27 feet | |||
| 38[87] [88] | 1981, June | Aberdeen Anderson Park | South Dakota | Cottonwood | 25 feet | Moved indoors for repair; viewable by appointment. | ||
| 39[89] [90] | 1981, August | Mandan Stage Stop, 601 6th Avenue Southeast | North Dakota | Cottonwood | 25 feet (original); approx. 20 feet (damaged)[91] | Struck and damaged by a car in 2013; majority of headdress fell off in a storm in 2020. | ||
| 40[92] [93] | 1981, October | Valdez Prince William Sound College | Alaska | Sitka spruce | 30 feet | |||
| 41[94] [95] | 1982, May | Osceola | Iowa | Cottonwood | Destroyed in 1993 by winds and flood; replacement created by Jesse Kuhs. | |||
| 42[96] [97] | 24 July 1982 | Narragansett Sprague Memorial Park | Rhode Island | Douglas fir | 20 feet | |||
| 43[98] | 1982, October | Groton | Connecticut | Douglas fir | In storage. | |||
| 44[99] | 1983, May | Ft. Lauderdale Seminole Indian tribe trading post | Florida | Cypress | 30 feet | |||
| 45[100] [101] | 24 July 1983 | Plymouth Tourist Information Center, Route 3, Exit 5 | Massachusetts | Red Oak | 30 feet | |||
| 46[102] | 1983, October | Bar Harbor | Maine | Elm | Glooscap | |||
| 47 [103] [104] | 22 July 1984 | Burlington Battery Park | Vermont | Red Oak | 34 feet | |||
| 48[105] | 1984, September | Laconia Opechee Park | New Hampshire | Red Oak | 36 feet | Lost to rot, but 3D scanned in hopes of creating a synthetic replica pending town approval. | ||
| 49[106] | 1984, November | Springfield Forest Park[107] [108] | Massachusetts | 15 feet | ||||
| 50[109] | 1985, May | Paducah Bob Noble Park | Kentucky | Red Oak[110] | 35 feet | The sculpture was restored during the summer of 2016.[111] [112] | ||
| 51[113] | 1985, August | Akron Fairlawn Elementary School | Ohio | Red Oak | 30 feet | Rotaynah | The sculpture was removed in Fall 2018 due to its deteriorating condition and safety concerns, The face of the sculpture (roughly 14 ft high) was saved, is in storage, and is looking for an indoor home to preserve it for future viewing. If you have an idea contact the Akron Public Schools. | |
| 52[114] [115] | 23 November 1985 | Murray City Park | Utah | Cottonwood | ||||
| 53[116] | 1986 | Reno Idlewild Park | Nevada | 17 feet | Wa-Pai-Shone | |||
| 54[117] | 1986 | Las Cruces Southeast of Hwy 70 | New Mexico | Pine | 20 feet | Dineh | ||
| 55[118] | 29 November 1986 | Johnson City Metro-Kiwanis Park | Tennessee | Chestnut Oak | 25 feet | The sculpture is in the process of being restored during October 2018. [119] | ||
| 56[120] [121] | 1987, September 25[122] | Hillsboro Shute Park | Oregon | Douglas Fir | 25 feet | Removed June 2017, after a windstorm caused damage that was deemed irreparable[123] | ||
| 57[124] | 1987 | Astoria Youngs Bay Bridge | Oregon | Cedar[125] | 18 feet | Ikala Nawan | ||
| 58[126] | 1988, May | Hale'iwa 59-254 Kamehameha Highway, between Sunset Beach and Sunset Beach Elementary School | Hawaii | Douglas Fir or redwood | 25 feet | Statue is no longer displayed. It is now horizontal on private property | ||
| 59[127] | 1988, October | Wakefield Dock on Sunday Lake | Michigan | 20 feet | ||||
| 60[128] | 1988 | North Bay Welcome Center | Ontario, Canada | 16 feet | Nibising | |||
| 61[129] | 1989, May | Ottawa Welcome Center | Illinois | 13 feet | Ho-Ma-Sjah-Nah-Zhee-Ga | |||
| 62[130] | 1989 | Utica Starved Rock State Park | Illinois | Oak | 20 feet | Chief Walks with the Wind | ||
| 63[131] | 1989, September | Cherokee Museum of the Cherokee Indian | North Carolina | Sequoia[132] | 22 feet | |||
| 64[133] | 1989 | Concord "Buffalo Ranch" (defunct)[134] | North Carolina | 20 feet | Severely damaged | |||
| 65[135] [136] | 1989, October | Williamsport Brandon Park | Pennsylvania | 20 feet | Restored in 2019 and displayed at bus terminal at William St. and W. Willow St.[137] | |||
| 66[138] | Hollywood Seminole Reservation | Florida | May have been moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. | |||||
| 67[139] | 1992 | Winnipeg Beach In the Town Square | Manitoba, Canada | Cedar | 30 feet | Anishinaabe | ||
| 68[140] | 1999 | Iowa Falls Foster Blvd., adjacent to the Veterans Memorial overlooking the Iowa River | Iowa | 30 feet | New statue replacing Statue #28[141] | |||
| 69[142] | 2002 | Bethany Beach Front of Town Hall on Garfield Parkway | Delaware | 25 feet | Chief Little Owl | In 1992, termites and high winds destroyed Statue #22. A replacement statue was carved out of white oak by Dennis D. Beach and lasted until 2000. Statue #69 carved by Peter Wolf Toth in 2002 replaces Statue #22[143] | ||
| 70[144] | 2002 | Colquitt Chamber of Commerce building on Highway 27 | Georgia | 18 feet | New statue replaces Statue #4[145] | |||
| 71[146] | 2005 | Buckhead Waccamaw Siouan Indian Reservation | North Carolina | 16 feet | New statue replaces Statue #18 that was moved to this location from Wilmington, NC | |||
| 72[147] | 2005 | Whiteville North Carolina Museum of Forestry | North Carolina | 16 feet | ||||
| 73 | 2008 | Délegyháza, Hungary | Stephen I of Hungary | |||||
| 74 | 2009 | Vincennes First and Hart streets | Indiana | Black Oak | Tecumseh |